GAME PREVIEW: Miami Heat basketball returns for first preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets

Game Story:

Another offseason has officially come and gone, and the Miami Heat are ready for a fresh start. With some minor changes to the roster, the new look Heat will aim to get a flow going with their first preseason game taking place tonight against the Charlotte Hornets. Miami will be on the road for their first of five preseason matchups.

In terms of the roster changes, the Heat lost a pair of contributors in Caleb Martin and Delon Wright during free agency. Orlando Robinson has also went his separate ways after the Heat opted to waive the big man over the summer. Instead, they have brought in new young talent from the draft in 7-foot Kel’el Ware and Pelle Larsson. The team’s only free agent acquisition came with Alec Burks; a veteran sharpshooter from the New York Knicks.

Burks will be wasting no time in getting his feet wet in a new system, as he is slated to receive the spot start against the Hornets following a sore groin with Tyler Herro. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is also dealing with groin issues and will not be available this evening, but both injuries have been deemed “minor” by Heat staff and reporters. They are not expected to miss any regular season time as of now, and more so taking the caution approach with it being the preseason.

Josh Richardson is also listed as out for tonight and is indeed in jeopardy of missing some regular season time. His timetable has not yet been disclosed, but Richardson is coming off a shoulder surgery from a year ago and isn’t quite ready to be cleared for 5 v 5 work.

Some things to look forward to during this brief preseason stretch will be Bam Adebayo’s 3-point volume and the play of the new two-way players. The Heat are allowed three of those spots, which are currently being used by Dru Smith, Josh Christopher and Keshad Johnson. Isaiah Stevens, another standout undrafted asset from the Heat’s undefeated summer league championship, will look to make an impact in hopes of making the cut.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

• Jaime Jaquez Jr (groin) — OUT
• Tyler Herro (groin) — OUT
• Josh Richardson (surgery) — OUT

Charlotte Hornets:

• N/A at time of publishing.

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Miami Heat:

• Terry Rozier, G
• Alec Burks, G
• Jimmy Butler, F
• Nikola Jovic, F
• Bam Adebayo, C

Charlotte Hornets:

• LaMelo Ball, G
• Brandon Miller, G
• Josh Green, F
• Miles Bridges, F
• Mark Williams, C

Betting Lines:

• Check the current odds out at FanDuel!

Broadcast Info:

• Tipoff: 7:00 PM EST
• TV: Bally Sports Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
• Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
• Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)

Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!

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